Tractor-wheel.



G. H. CHRiSTMAN.

TRACTOR WHEEL.

ARPLICATION FILED JAN.29,1916.

1 1 86,077, Patented .J une 6, 1916;

3SHEETSSHEET I.

G. H. CHRISTMAN.

TRACTOR WHEEL.

APPLICATION FLLED JAN.29, 1916.

1 1 86,077. Patented June 6, 1916.

Tnr: coLuMnlA PLANDGRAPH co., WASHINGTON. D. c

GEORGE H. CHRISTMAN, OF SEAT PLEASANT, MARYLAND.

TRACTOR-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 6, 1916.

Application filed January 29, 1916. Serial No. 75,100.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE H. CHRIST- MAN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Seat Pleasant, in the countyof Prince George and State of Maryland, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Tractor-Theels, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to tractor wheels. I

The objectof my invention is to produce a tractor wheel having radiallyextending tractor blocks adapted to be alternately projected beyond theperimeter of the wheel and retracted within the perimeter thereof.

Another object of my invention is to produce a wheel of said characterprovided with projectable tractor blocks with means for alternatelyprojecting and retracting said blocks and means for throwing saidprojecting and retracting means out of operation whereby the wheel maybe revolved without the operation of the tractor blocks.

A further object thereof is to produce a wheel of the characterdescribed having means carried within its hub adapted to al ternatelyproject and retract the tractor blocks carried thereon and means foradjusting said operating means 'intoand out of operating positions: anda still further object of my invention is to produce a more simple,cheap and efiicient device of p the character described than hasheretofore been attained.

To these ends my invention includes, thecombination and arrangement ofcomponent parts to be hereinafter described and'more particularlypointed out in the claims. 7

In the accompanying drawings, in which like reference charactersindicate similar parts; Figure l is a side view of the tractor wheel ofmy invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical, transverse sectional view of thesame. Fig. 3 is a vertical, sectional view of the tractor operatingadjustable cam carried on the wheel shown in inoperative position; Fig.4 is a similar view, showing same in operative position; Fig. 5 is atransverse, sectional view of F igg t. Fig. 6 is a detail view of thelever mechanism for adjusting the cam which operates the tractor blocks;and Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a modified form of construction of mywheel axle, showing the parts thereof as separable.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 indicates a tractor wheel comprisingthe rim 2 having the radial spokes 3 extending from the hub 4., which asshown adjacent to their outer ends, are preferably bifurcated at 5. Saidparts arepreferably cast integrally and each of the spokes is providedwith a radial, longitudinal channel 6 extending from the hub to theouter rim, which channel at its outer end is enlarged to accommodatethetractor block 7 carried on the end of the rod 8. Within said hub andmounted on suitable brackets 9 are provideda plurality ofroller bearings10'upon which the wheel revolves, but as these form no part of myinvention they will not be more particularly described. The wheel andhub thus described are mounted on the axle 11, which offset from itsouter end, is provided with an enlarged annular portion 12, upon whichis provided the means for alternately pro jecting and retracting thetractor. rods 8 when it is desired to adjust same for operation;

Upon the inner ends of the tractor rods 8 are carried rollers 13 mountedon the transverse spindle 14 adapted to be carried in the way 15surrounding the enlarged portion 12 of the axle 11. Said way is formedby the metallic bands 16 and 16, the ends of which are recessed in theslot 17 formed in the enlarged portion 12 ofthe axle, while theintermediate portion thereof rests in the groove 18 on the perimeterthereof. The outer wall of said way is formed of the segmental bands 19,20 and 21 which are preferably L-shaped in cross section and are hingedtogether at their contacting ends by the leaf hinges 22. Said L-shapedouter bands are spaced from the inner bands 16 and 16 by a plurality ofarc-shaped blocks secured on the outer band and are adapted to beadjusted concentrically with the inner bands, as will be hereinafterdescribed, through the medium of the hingesmentioned and a slidingengagement of one end thereof w1th the groove 23,

as more particularly shown in Figs. 3 and 4-- v The lower portion of theenlarged section I 12 of the axle is provided with a cut out portion orrecess 24, in which is seated a lever 25 rigidly. carried on the.transverse rod 26 which extends through the walls of said recess 24. Theouter ends of the bands 16 and 16 are attached to the outer orfree endof said lever 25, by which, when the rod 26 is rocked to move the lever25 outwardly,

said bands are extended to an eccentric position together with theL-shaped bands 19, 20 and 21 whereby the way 15 is extended intoeccentric position with respect to the axle and a cam is thus formed foractuating the rods 6 inwardly and outwardly as the wheel revolves, andwhereby the tractor blocks 7 are extended beyond the perimeter of tilewheel at its point of contact with the roa As before stated,.the leveris moved inwardly and outwardly by the rod 26 and said rod is actuatedby the bell crank lever 27 connected with a root lever on the vehicle towhich the wheel is attached and said levers are normally held ininoperative position by the spring 28 attached to the wheel shaft oraxle 11.

In the modified form of my invention, shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings,my wheel axle on which the parts hereinbefore described are carried,isformed of separable parts comprising the main shaft 30 having thelongitudinal reduced extension 31 provided with a screw-threaded end 32on which is carried the enlarged portion 33 rigidly secured thereon bythe outer portion of the axle 34 screwed upon the end of the reducedpart 31.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to besecured by Letters Patent, is:

1. The combination with an axle, of a wheel mounted thereon, radiallyextending tractor rods carried on the wheel having tractor blocks on theouter end thereof and adapted to be reciprocated in their bearings, acollapsible member carried on the axle capable of being expanded intoeccentric form and contracted into concentric form engaging the innerends of said tractor rods, as and for the purposes specified.

2. The combination with an axle of a wheel mounted thereon, radiallyextending tractor rods movably carried on said wheel having tractorblocks on their outer ends adapted to be projected beyond the perimeterof the wheel, a plurality of flexible bands carried on the axle withinthe hub of the wheel forming a way around the axle, means carried oninner ends of said tractor rods within said way to control theprojection and retraction of the rods, and means for retaining said wayin concentric annular position and for distorting same into eccentriccam-like form to impart a reciprocating 1 movement to the tractor rodsand project the tractor blocks beyond the perimeter of the wheel rim atpredetermined positions in the revolution of the wheel.

3. The combination with an axle, of a wheel mounted thereon havinghollow radial spokes, tractor rods movably carried in said spokes havingtractor blocks on their outer ends, a plurality of flexible bandscarried 011 the axle within the hub of the wheel, one end of each ofwhich is slidably carried in a slot in the axle, a sectional expansiblering secured to the axle concentric with said bands forming with saidbands a normally annular way around the axle, rollers mounted on theinner ends of said tractor rods and confined between said bands andring, a lever mounted on the axle to which the opposite ends of saidbands are attached for expanding the bands and ring into eccentriccam-like form to reciprocate the tractor rods and project the tractorblocks at predetermined positions in the revolution of the wheel, andmeans for actuating said 1ever to throw said bands and ring intoconcentric and eccentric positions, substantially as described.

4. The combination with an axle having a recess therein, of a wheelmounted thereon having hollow radial spokes, tractor rods movablycarried in said spokes having tractor blocks on their outer ends, aplurality of flexible bands carried on the axle within the hub of thewheel, one end of each of which is slidably. carried in a slot in theaxle, a lever mounted on the axle in said recess to one end of which theouter ends of said bands are attached, a sectional, expansible ringsecured to the axle concentric with said bands and forming therewith anor mally annular way surrounding the axle, rollers mounted on the innerends of said tractor rods and confined in said way, a lever foractuating said first-mentioned lever to expand said bands and ring intoeccentric cam-like form to reciprocate the tractor rods and project thetractor blocks at predetermined positions in the revolution of thewheel, substantially as described.

5. The combination with an axle, of an enlarged portion thereonintermediate of its ends, of a wheel mounted thereon having a hubsurrounding said enlarged portion of the axle, said enlarged portionbeing pro vided with a recess therein, radially extending tractor rodsmovably carried in the wheel having tractorblocks on their outer ends, aplurality of flexible bands carried on the enlarged portion of the axle,one end of each of which is slidably seated in a slot therein, a levermounted in the recess in the axle to which the outer ends of said bandsare attached, a sectional, expansible ring surrounding said bands andenlarged P01; tion of the axle having an annular slot therein, rollersmounted on the inner ends of said tractor rods and confined between saidband and ring, and a lever for distorting said bands and ring intoeccentric cam-like form to reciprocate the tractor rodsand project thetractor blocks, substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. An axle for a tractor wheel, comprising a main body portion having areduced longitudinal extension on the end thereof, and outer portion inremovable positions an enlarged portion removably carried on on the mainportion, substantially as desaid longitudinal extension and an outerscribed. 10 axle portion removably carried on the outer In testimonywhereof I hereby aflix my end of said reduced extension of the samesignature.

diameter as the main body portion, and

means for securing said enlarged portion GEORGE H. OHRISTMAN.

copies of thin patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe "Commissioner of Patents, wuhington, D. G.

